davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-05-18
CAMP GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Busy Scenes Of Preparation i'm the Mon
ument Grounds.

WASHINGTON, May l5-From Puget
Sound, from Texas, from New Orleans,
and other distant points National Guards
men have waived adieu TO their sweet
hearts. and are now bowling along over
the railroads on their way TO Camp
George Washington And at Camp
George Washington there is no drum beat
vet. but the reyille is sounded by the mer-
~ ring Of hundreds of hammer. There
were busy scenes around the base of the
Washington monument to-day.
Scores Of men were at work laying out
the camp and putting down plank floors
for tents. The camp ground includes
nearly all Of the Monument grounds and
is encirclcd by the driveway. Across
Babcock Lake, near the entrance to the
drill grounds i'm the White Lot, tenn
porary headquarters have been establish
cd by the committee in charge Of the
camp. This Is frame structure intended
for use when the camp opens as
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-05-18
AGUARD HOUSE.

Here Colonel J.. p Wright and Major
Vanderburg. who are looking after the
arrangements of the camp. make their
headquarters Major Nanderburg rides
out ON horseback. goes over the ground,
and gives needed direction. % the bosses.
sub-bOsses. and wOrkmcn. 81 have spent
two DAYS now ON the hurricane deck of
horse" said the major, to-day The
camp will not be square. bat will folio"
the lines Of the roadway, the curves Of
Babcook Lakc
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-05-18

Ems If.t uH Siam -t'et
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14
BURNSlDE'S CAMPAIGN.

Gen Burnside was a man OF fine, soldierly
presence, and highly esteemed. He was born
in Liberty, Ind. in 1874 and was graduated
at West Point in ls47, just in time to b" sent
20 Mexico. lie afterwards resigned from the
army and established factory for making
n breech loading rifle Of his own invention
in Rhode Island His career was n varied
one. and when the war began, IN 1901, ne
was an officer Of the Illinois Central railroad.
lie immediately joined the Union army as
colonel Of "A Rhode Island regiment, and rose
70 be- a major general Of volunteers imme-
diately after the first Bull Run. He was put to
duty along the Atlantic coast, and Newbern,
Beaufort and Roanoke Island were trophies
of bis milita-y ability.
At the beginning Of Pope's campaign he
was called to Virginia He performed active
and distinguished service through that and
the Maryland campaign. So we'll was he
thought OF that the command Of the Army
Of the Potomac had been offered TO him twice
before he accepted il. and each time lac bad
refused il His modesty seems 10 have been
unequaled in the history OF army officers.
The Army OF the Potomac had already
been the grave Of the military regulations OF
Mcclellan and Pope Burnside's name was
10 add the third TO the hapless list After
his Fredericksburg campaign lac was sent west
aud performed distinguished service in the
department OF the Ohio, freeing east Ieimes-
see at length from the Confederates. During
the final campaign against Richmond he was
m the east again and commanded his old
Ninth corps, contributing not little to the
closing victory
After the war be was three terms gov
emor Of Rhode Island lie was IN Europe
during the Franco. German war, and was al
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

like blades Of grass before a reaper Night
only closed the slaughter When it settled
down over that smoking bleeding field thore
were 1900 fewer effective soldiers Of the
Army Of the Potomac than there had been in
the morning.
Burnside wished 10 renew the contest next
day, Dec II, but his officers dissuaded him
from IT, That night be crossed back 10 Fal-
mouth. Withdrew his whole army to Stafford
heights and left Lee 10 possess Fredericks.
burg. what there was left Of It. He himself
passed the night in a state Of mental agony
hard % describe.
The battle OF Fredericksburg was Fought
on Saturday. Burnside had 10000 effective
men ia his army, Lee -, 600 in his fortified
heights The Union loss was about 1900;
the Confederate 8. TO- On the Confederate
side Gems Gregg and 4. X. r. Cobb were
killed. On the Union side, Gems. George
Bayari and c. Feger Jackson. Burnside
had resolved 10 cross the Rappahannock
again below Fredericksburg The move
ment was 10 commence Dec 81. when sud
denly Burnside received an order from Presi-
dent Lincoln 10 make no general movement
without first informing him Of IL While
Burnside hnd been preparing 70 cross the
Rappahannock, several OF his generals had
been 20 he president and represented 70 him
that they thought Burnside's plans were
ruuous Ioily.
80 nothing was done till Jan 20, 1868.
Burnside mad decided 10 make another at
tempt u cross the Rappahannock. six miles
above fredericksburg. Bat il seemed that
not only his own officers, but the fates. were
against him. His army had no sooner started
up the liver than great storm set in Snow,
rain and sleet came down all together and
rendered the march impossible. The soldiers
said il seemed as If the bottom had fallen out
Of the roads
a e troops could not 20 forward A few
indeed reached the river after long delay,
only 10 find the Confederates ready Tor them
at the crossing.
The expedition was a failure Officers
Of the Army Of the Potomac spoke OF II de-
rlsively as the Mud March. Burnside was
next relieved from command Of the army lat
his own request, the government records
say. Whases er bis military capacity or the
lack Of It, he was one OF the most unseldsh
and patriotic Of all the Union generals.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14
FREnFRlCKSRuRG

The battle Of fredericksburg took place
Dec. - 1t was disastrous day to the
Union arms. Burnside's plan Of attack was
for Sumner and Franilm 10 storm the forii.
fed Confederate heights above the town, all
along tie line, and carry them by assault
I'm the midst Of dense fog, Dec T., Sum
nel's grand division had crossed at the upper
pontoon on the right, Franklms below on the
left. The First Second, Sixth and Ninth corps
were the troops that had crossed. They were
commanded respectively 10y Gems Reynolds,
Couch, W. T. Smith and Wilcox They
formed their lines parallel T. the river, except
Gen. Meade's division OF the First corps,
which was at right angles tOit Gen Double
days division was stationed as a reserve in
the rear OF Meade on the left.
The fogs Of Dec. l. continued - the 18th
Added to this the weather, tor Virginia. was
bitterly cold 1t vas the first experience OF
some Of Lees soldiers with northern winter,
and tie night OF the 18th some Confederate
sentinels froze at their posts
Fredericksburg is another q the battles Of
the civil war about which there has been
much dispute 1t is said on the ono band
that Durnside's order 10 Franklin as to the
beginning Of the fight was ambiguous in mean
ing On the other, Gen Franklin has been
blamed for not pushing the fight soiidly on
the Federal LETT, az Hamiltous crossing
After crossing the Rappahannock, Franklin
was directed by Burnsides order 10 keep he
whole command in position for rapid move.
ment down the old Richmond road. Burn
side was by no means so well informed Of the
strength Of the force opposed to him as Lee
seems To have been about Burnsids's army.
Frankln's corps began the fight early in
the morning Dee. Is, with Gen George c.
Meade IN the advanc. There were two lines
Of Confederate Notifications along the heights
Frankiin's attack was on the Confederate
right, against Stonewall Jackson. a fearful
storm OF shot and shell met the Feierals A.
T. Hills advance Confederate line was driven
back, however, but Gregg, Early and Stuart
closed in and repealed charge after charge.
More than ~ per cent Of Meade's command
fell. Reynolds came 10 his aid with re-en-
forcemehts, and Reynolds lost 1000. But
they finally drove the Confederates back
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

Jackson Hunt was born in 1921 in Ohio, like
his commander western man, also q West
Point graduate He finished the course of in.
struction there when only Is years old. Dur
ing the Mexican war he became major Of ar
tillery, and was afterwards especially identi-
fled with that arm Of the service He was
McClellan's chief Of staff during the peninSu-
lar campaign During the whole war he
served in the Army of the Potomac and was
one Of its most faithful and useful officers.
Burnside's chief cavalry commander con-
tinued 70 be Gen. Alfred Pleasonton Pleas
onton was born at Washington city, IN 1924
and was the same age as Burnside He en-
tered the cavalry service when he left W est
Point, in 1874. aud was sent 10 Mexico He
remained IN the west and southwest on duty
most of the time till the outbreak Of the civil
war. At Fredericksburg he held the rank OF
brigadier general Of volunteers. He saw
severe fighting there aud subsequently, at
Chancellorsvile and Gettysburg After
wards he was ordered west, and ms troopers
helped clear Missouri Of Sterling Prices men
in 1854
In 1865 Gen. Pleasonton resigned from the
army and engaged in mining and other bust
ness His advocacy Of the blue glass theory is
well known
Burnsides chief of staff was Brig Gen
John T.. fafke. SAID TO he one OF the
handsomest OF the accomplished officers
grouped about the headquarters OF
the Army OF the Potomac Parke was
Pennsylvania, born in 1927, and a
West Pointer Of 1910 He entered the engi-
neer corps. He had been a brgadier general
on the North Carolina coast under Burnside,
and, with his old commander, joined the
Army Of the Potomac lie afterwards was
ordered south and west He took active part
in the siege Of Nicksburg, also Of Knoxville
lie followed the fortunes of Burnside At
the hual battles before Richmond, and pre-
vious to that, in 1864, Gen. Parke, under
Burnside. commanded the old Ninth corps
Gen. Parse Is now superintendent at West
Point
Military critics declare that Burnside
should have aimed at Lees army rather than
at Richmond At all events, he determined
to occupy Fredericksburg Immediately Pub
lie sentiment and the newspapers demanded
that something should he done at once.
While Burnside was making way for the
transportation Of supplies the Confederates
were terrifying fredericksburg and the
heights behind It, At the end OF November
Lees whole army lay in crescent around
Fredericksburg. Its right was at Port Royal,
below the town; the left little distance
above. The Confederate Notifications we're
truly formidable, so as 10 render crossing di-
rectly in front Of the city hopeless. But pon-
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

ufterward IL is rather d strange wh.m Of
fate that the name OF 50 brave and accom-
piishei a general as William Henry French
should be so little known o. bis couutrymen
Some of the bloodiest fighting of Ibis on
any war was done by his and Hancock. dirl
sious that day at Fredericksburg They LIST
fully tHO-Iiffhs Of their men.
" IA French was born i'm Mary land u
lslj He was graduate of West Point and
fought iu the Indian war la Florida in lc.l..
also IN the Mexican war He was first DO
command at Key West during the civil wan,
but vas transferred 10 the Army OF the potO-
mae lie became q major general OF volm-
teels in 1862 After tue war he WAS in the
artillery service ON the Pacific coast Cen
French died ia ISL
As the fog lifted in the course OF the fore
noon Iongstreet beheld from the heights 81
Marye', hill French and Hancock advancing
in two columns 20 the assault They came by
two parallel roads. the Orange plank road
and the Telegraph road The Telegraph road
lei ID Richmond.
\ deep ravine separated the advancing
troops from the foot OF Maryes h.ll Tho
Telegraph road skirted along the foot OF
Mafyes hill The road. indeed had been cut
out OF the bills side and was twenty-five feet
wide On ono side of 10 was the bill, upon the
otler Ugh stone wall had been built This
val wa5 as high as a mans shoulders
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

hostile forces were sometimes only a few miles
apart in this race southwark, but VITA the
ridge between them. But Lee moved more
rapidly. His advance, under Longstreet,
hurried forward, crossed the mountains and
took position at Culpepper Nov. 8
This rapid marching, however, separated
Lees army more than was safe jackson and
the cavalry were three days behind him.
Percoiving this, Mcclellan at length deter
mined, of his own free will, TO give battle. lie
believed that he could now strike a fatal
blow. His army was at Warrenton, Lees
advance at Culpepper, some ten miles south.
He said afterward OF the situation: Il did ex-
pect i could either separate them and beat
them In detail, or else force them 10 concen-
trate as far back Us Gordonsyilie, and thus
place the Army OF the P0tOmacsin position
either to adopt the Fredei icksburg line Of
advance upon Richmond or 20 be removed to
the peninsula.
The good weather Of the autumn had by
that time passed away. Mcclellan now,
however seemed 10 be thoroughly alive and
in full vigor OF determination The night OF
Nov. there was heavy rain over the camp
Of the Army Of the Potomac Gen. MeClel-
Ian sat In his tent concluding plans and Civ
ing directions for the great hostile movement
70 be made the next two days. A messenger
brought him dispatch from Washington.
II was All order relieving him from com
mand OF the Army Of the Potomac, and up.
pointing Gen. Ambrose f.. Burnside In his
place. With that the name of Gen. McClei-
Ian disappears from American military his
tory. He resigned his commission Nv the
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

toon bridges were prepared by Burnside, and
be arranged to cross the Rappahannock at
Skcnker's Neck, twelve miles below. Lee
discovered this move in time b. Illustrate 1t.
There seem to have been ways whereby
Burnside's plaIis were constantly discovered
TO Lee and that almost Immediately.
With n large portion of Lees army Mt
Skenker's Neck, Burnside next thought he
could force the passage Of the Rappahamnock
and take Fredericksburg under the guns OF
those who were leff The Union artillery
was planted upon Stafford Heights, above
Falmouth IL commanded the whole plain OF
Frederi kshurg.
Lee was so well informed Of all that wen,
Oh Isl the Union army that within twenty
four hours after Mcclellan had been super
seeded by Burnside bee was informed Of 1t.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

on Daily, as of Old the newspaper head
lines announced, "All quiet on the Potomac
Then the old impotence and dissatisfaction
broke out anew, and the country began 10
wonder why it was 50 quiet along the Io-
tOmac
More weeks went on till 1t was six weeks
after the battle Of Antictam and nothing
done BY that time Lees army was thor
oughly rested and re enforced, aud amounted
TO 10000 To the presidents orders to move
against him early in October Mcclellan had
answered that be must have new cavalry
horses. BY the last of October he concluded
that he was ready to cross the Potomac. The
crossing was actually made Nov. =.
Mcclellan ordered his main army 10 con-
centrate at Warrenton, Va On this Lee his
army in good trim, his communications with
Richmond perfect, resolved 20 retreat south
ward The main portion Of the Confederate
army marched up the Shenandoah valley,
turned off to the Rappahannock and took po-
stion at Culpepper Stonewall Jackson's
command with the cavalry under j. f. b.
Stuart, remained behind to hang upon the
Union army and annoy and delay II as far
as possible till the main Confederate body
should be secure
II one could have stool upon peak Of the
Blue Ridge mountains Of bright morning IN
those early days Of November, 1862, he would
have seen sight to thrill gods and men. On
the east side Of the ridge McClellan's mighty
army OF over 100, 600 men marched with way
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

ell. Burnside had prepared pontoon bridge.
Dec II was the day be fixc for the crossing
That morning, before dwight the brid.' as
were brought down ID tie shore and
the engineers set 70 work TO construct them.
A. the dawn broke, booml b0oml went ~
mshotted cannon from Marye's heights, tel
ng Leo and lis men that the time was come.
Blrksddles sharpshooters within the town If
fredericksburg began firing on the bridge
builders They prevented the completion Of
the bridges The batteries from Stafford
heights were then trained upon Freierick5-
burg They battered il down, yet the sharp
shooters were not dislOdgei Then Union
volunteers 10 cross the river IN open bouts
and drive out the sharp,hooters were called
for This was done with the loss OF 800 mon,
and the Fclerals took possession of the liver
front of Fredericksburg Dec IL That even
inc ami the next day Summers and Frank
Inns grand divisions crossed, leaving part of
Hookors center grand division on the Fat
mouth side.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

Gen. Ransom j. nov bnit,d State, Senator
Matt " Ransom from North Carolina.
Gen Ransom. was native of North Caro-
Ina. born in 1926 lie ua- educated in his
own state. became % lawyer, and heid various
local Offices pre,iout o. the civil var. Then
he entered the Confederate army and passed.
up through various promotions 10 the RANK ct
major general Tie continued in the Army
Of Northern Virginia tl the end. AMI SUR
rendered with Ice at App1matiox H. j.
now serving his third consecutive term in the
United States senate
Another Confederate general who has On
tered Washington by different route from
the one he proposed twent, i've years ago IS
Wade Hompton, United States senator from
South Carolina. he too vas at Freiercks-
burg and commanded brigade Of cavalry,
". IL T.. Lee commanding another. J j..
g. Stuart was the division cavalry com
mauder.
Wade Hampton distinguished himself in
the Confederate cavalry service. Lee placed
him ON guard above Fredericksburg TO pre-
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14
somewhat to Massaponax creek The fight
between the Federal left and Confederate

somewhat to Massaponax creek The fight
between the Federal left and Confederate
right continued two hours.
Summers grand division formed the FED.
eral right To II fell the task of storming
Marye's hill, the most formidable Of the Com
Tolerate works Lees officers say that when
their general discovered that Burnside was
about TO attack his works on Fredericksburg
heights be was greatly rejoiced. He felt that he
could hold them well nigh against the world.
Longstrects chief Of artillery said 10 him the
morning OF Dec 49, as they looked over the
ground in front Of Marye's hill:
General. We cover that ground now 50
well that we will comb it as with fine tooth
comb. A chicken could not live ON that field
when we open on It,"
There is one fact connected with this time
which renders il exceedingly difficult 10 get
at the exact truth in its history. The reports
and accounts given by army officers and con
temporary correspondents are manifestly
tinged with the pro or anti Mcclellan parti-
San,hip. The position OF neither Pope nor
Burnside as commander Of the Army Of the
Potomac was pleasant one, aud that fact
needs TO be borne in mind constantly
Brig Gen J. F. Reynolds commanded the
First corps in Franklin's left grand division
Franklin considered that three divisions Of
Reynolds corps were sufficient 10 carry ont
Burnsides order, which he understood To
mean that he should make reconnaissance
rather thana serious attack To Roynoll, WAS
deputel this task and 10 bis corp, belonged
Meade's division
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

crate service. Sturgis remained IN the Union
service aud took an active part ia the war
lfom the hist Beginning With Lyons ia
Missouri, bee at length came east and had
charge of the fortiEcations at Washington,
theu commanded division in tue Potomac
army lle va, afternard chief Of cavalry In
tle department of Ohio His rank at Fred
trieE,hug was that of hrigadier general Of
volunteers Sturgis' dis ision furnished is
quota Of dead men To- the fatal stone wall,
lO!, ONT ot two bugades. and fell back
Criflms division OF the Firth corps fol-
bowed Sufsis, advancing gailanty IL lost
,ls meu ami retIeatei behind knoll Sixth
aui n-t. Humphreys division OF Rockers
corps was ordered 10 the assault Hooker,
seeing the u-ele,.ness of this slaughter, begged
Burnside 90 countermand the order, bat
Burnside replied. The crest must be car
uoi tonight and ordered Hooker across
with two divisions Humphreys and Sykes
Humphreys i, said 70 have been the ablest
officer on the field Of fredericksburg BY
the time be advanced ON Maryes hill the
ammunition OF the Confederate artillery
uDou the heights was exhausted, and thus
ono calling lire % which his predecessors
hal been exposed was stopped His men
gained Il point some yards ia advance Of
tLos, - uo had gone before
perreyug the uselessness OF firing at the
wall. Humphreys ordered his men 10 charge
b1youefs They prepared TO do 50, though it
wa, hopeless. Nh,n the same sheet II tame
flushed into their faces and spite Of all efforts
o. Ialiy them they turned backward. Nearly
hail of their 1000 fell Ia fifteen minutes
Then night closed
Andrew A HumDh-axs was "A Penusylva.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14

ing the war hc reached the rank Of major gen
eral Since then bee las served Two terms a-
governor OF South Carolina, previous 20 his
election TO the United States senate.
Senator Ilamptons grandfather, also
called Wade Hampton was likewise "A soldier
and politician lie was am officer Ia the rev
olution and member Of congress in lsgj.
The old man died at Columbia, $ C.. ia 1884,
the richest planter aud siase owner ia the
United States.
The name of Lee was numerously repre-
sented la the officers grouped around tue
Confederate commander. Brig Gen " ii.
r. Lee, the cavalry commander, was Robert
t. s second son. Robert l. ; nephew, fitz
Hugh, also cayalryman. held prominent
command ina the Army of Northern Virginia.
All OF Lees sons-three Of tEcm-scrved la
the Confederate army The eldest CIV c,
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-14


Below tia town the ridge again approachc-
rio.e 90 tlis river Behind the first range 90
bah, another rose. as il both were buiit by
nature for lhe planting OF hatterio, for tAe
protection II Fredericksburg. Luin-ile
cool not have selected worse point ior 40
tack or iscn bclier one tor defense. The
railroad from Richmond 10 the Potomac
river passed through the town.
i... had 7sVU men after Jackson joinel
hiu. Tines. beam To- throw up earthworh-
be "a crescent SIX miles long. from tAe Ma-sa-
pouax 10 above fredcrichsbms. They
worked win % VIII aud -oon bad built those
lormnhhl. Qualifications against which Burn
sides haplos- host, were to dash themselves
hic Wale- against granite rock.
Nearest the kipiahqnnOck. on the north II
~ Confederate left. was layl0r's bin. about
which L. H. Anderson. men lay. Next came
Mayes bill. which gained fatal renown Do.
the battle Here were others Of Long,troet,
men, lill. Ransom and Mcl.aws. Acros-
Murycs hiil riu stone wall, terracing the
hiL Next came Telegraph bin, the highest
OF ALL Here Ire stood and directed opera
tons in person. For thi, reason the crest is
nov called lees bin. aud as such !, pointed
out T. the visitor Next after Mcl1Ws came
HnoIs division 900 the right. Stlll farther 90
the right las Juckson's men, a T. Ill.,
Early and luiairlrO II. H. HuIs command
Na- upon the extreme right as a reserve.
So, ON The morning OF Dee. lD, l,C3 las ihc
Confederate army awaiting the Federal ad
vance stafford heights. occupied by Bum
sides artillery on the opposite siie 81 the
kappahamocE, were higher than the hills on
the Confederate side, but tuese again. rei,
SO far distant as 10 be practically cut Of
lanee Of the Union guns.
Loug,tre,t say- Lee. army had twenty